NFL media loves nothing more than calling a quarterback a “leader of men.” Even if the stats are mid and the win-loss record is forgettable, slap the word “leader” on a guy, and he’s the next coming of Tom Brady.
But let’s be honest: many of these so-called leaders were good at yelling in the huddle and doing press conferences with grit. This list concerns quarterbacks who got too much credit for their “intangibles” and not nearly enough scrutiny for their on-field results.
20. Colt McCoy
Everyone said he was a great mentor, but you must win games to lead a team. He was more of a sideline counselor than a quarterback threat.
19. Tyrod Taylor
He’s been described as a calm and composed leader on every team he’s joined. Unfortunately, he’s also been described as “the guy we bench when it gets serious.”
18. Trevor Siemian
Saying the right things in pressers makes you a leader even if you throw for 150 yards and a pick. He always had that “high-floor backup” vibe more than “guy who can rally a locker room.”
17. Chase Daniel
He’s made a career out of being a “veteran presence” despite never being a threat to start. Eventually, it stops being leadership and becomes just a lucrative clipboard job.
16. Sam Bradford
Soft-spoken and poised, sure—but he led teams straight into mediocrity. For someone so often called a professional, the results were surprisingly underwhelming.
15. Josh McCown
Every team loved having him in the locker room, which is probably why he played for all of them. But “veteran mentor” shouldn’t excuse the fact that he rarely made a team better.
14. Blaine Gabbert
He always seemed to be the “smart guy who just needs a better situation.” The real situation was that he was not good.
13. Andy Dalton
He was the face of the Bengals for a while and was always praised for his leadership. Yet, you could never shake the feeling that he was borrowing the role until someone better came along.
12. Jimmy Garoppolo
He looked the part, spoke the part, and was hyped as a locker room leader. But it’s hard to lead when your most significant contribution is being handsome on the sidelines.
11. Kyle Orton
You’d think this guy was an elite motivator based on how often coaches raved about him. But he only consistently led teams to 8-8 records.
10. Matt Cassel
He parlayed one good year into a long stretch of leadership talk. Spoiler: it was mostly just vibes.
9. Jason Campbell
Consistently praised for being calm and cool under pressure. But sometimes you need more than just good posture to win football games.
8. Tim Tebow
He gave great speeches, knelt, and inspired teammates for about three quarters of awful football before pulling off a miracle. Leadership only gets you so far when you throw like a punter.
7. Mark Sanchez
They said he had moxie and command of the huddle. He also had the butt fumble and an alarming knack for turnovers.
6. Jeff Garcia
He was fiery and emotional, which people mistook for leadership. It was more like a high-octane roller coaster with no real playoff destination.
5. David Carr
The guy was under constant duress but was praised for being a pro. Carr would have been in Canton if toughness alone made you a great leader.
4. Marcus Mariota
Quiet, humble, respected, and perpetually disappointing on the field. Leadership is excellent, but production matters too.
3. Brock Osweiler
He got paid like a franchise guy after half a season of competent play and a lot of “he’s mature beyond his years” talk. That maturity didn’t help once the games counted.
2. Carson Wentz
He was constantly called a leader in Philly until everyone in the locker room seemed to turn on him. Leadership points don’t mean much if no one’s following you.
Read More: 20 NFL Players Who Got Way Too Much Credit for Their Teams’ Success
1. Alex Smith
Look, he was tough as nails and universally respected. But the “ultimate leader” narrative often glossed over that he was rarely more than a game manager with good PR.
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